醒悟 xǐngwù to come to oneself
to come to oneself; to come to realize; to come to see the truth; to wake up to reality
How to remember 醒悟: 醒 wake up + 悟 to realize = to come to oneself.
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How it is used
- 'To wake up to the truth, come to one's senses / realize' - 他终于醒悟过来 (tā zhōngyú xǐngwù guòlái) he finally saw the light.
- A moment of clarity after being deluded or mistaken; often 恍然醒悟 (suddenly realize) or 幡然醒悟 (abruptly wake up to it).
- Compare 觉悟 (juéwù, awakened understanding/consciousness, often ideological); 醒悟 stresses snapping out of an error.